I put together a short list of popular English books I found at the Shibuya Central Library all available in the English section, all free to borrow.

All of these books are available in the English section for free, so you don’t need to buy anything to start reading, just create a library card.

And if you don’t live in Shibuya, don’t worry. Most public libraries across Tokyo allow Tokyo residents to sign up, so you can still borrow English books from this library.

Let's start:

Taylor Jenkins Reid

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

This book is about Evelyn Hugo, a famous Hollywood actress who finally decides to tell the truth about her life. As she shares her story with a journalist, she reveals her rise to fame, her seven marriages, and the secrets she has kept for years.

Matt Haig

The Midnight Library

This book is about a woman who finds herself in a mysterious library between life and death. Each book allows her to experience a different version of her life, based on the choices she could have made.

Paula Hawkins

The Girl on the Train

This book is about a woman who takes the same train every day and becomes interested in the lives of people she sees from the window. One day, something unexpected happens, and she becomes involved in a missing person case.

Richard Osman

The Thursday Murder Club

This book is about a group of retirees who meet every week to discuss unsolved crimes. When a real murder happens nearby, they decide to investigate it themselves.

Delia Owens

Where the Crawdads Sing

This book tells the story of a young girl who grows up alone in the marshes of North Carolina. As she learns to survive on her own, she becomes connected to a mysterious death in a nearby town.

Which one would you pick first?

I’ll be sharing more English books you can find in Tokyo libraries, so if you’re looking for your next read, stay tuned.

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If you want to borrow any of these you'll need a Shibuya library card. I wrote a full guide on how to get one here: [How to get a Tokyo library card]